This is a question primarily for the public libraries of the group
(though any helpful suggestions/arguments are welcome)...I am interested
in finding out what your collection policies are regarding DVDs; I am
trying to convince my administration the worthiness of changing our DVD
circulation policies such that they are more in line with the other
materials in our collection. =20

=20

--For a typical feature film DVD release, how do you determine the
number of copies you order?

=20

--Do you take patron reserves for your DVDs?

=20

--If you take reserves, how do you determine when additional copies are
necessary for purchase?

=20

--What is your loan period for DVDs?

=20

--What is the limit on checkouts of DVD?

=20

My current situation: We are in the process of changing over to a new
system (Triple I Millennium), and are consequently reevaluating various
policies with this transition. We do not take reserves on feature film
releases (but we do on just about everything else, including
documentaries and foreign language titles) with a two-day loan period
and a limit of three DVDs at a time. They circulate for free.
Genrerally, my materials budget is not an issue...I can usually purchase
what I need when I need it. =20

=20

In order to bring the feature film DVDs in line with most of the other
materials in the library, I would like to see us begin taking reserves
on them. This would have the benefit to the customer in that they would
now have a better handle on when they will be able to view a specific
title (much the way they do on current print bestsellers). If the wait
is too long for them, they could explore other options for obtaining the
film (renting it, purchasing it). As it stands now, the chances of a
customer finding a specific current DVD title on the shelf at any
specific time is completely random, which can be frustrating. Taking
reserves would also benefit the customer in that they would learn to use
the new online catalog, and could place the reserves from their own home
(or we could do it for them, of course!). Can you think of any other
benefits?=20

=20

We are also looking at standardizing the loan period for DVDs...as I
mention above, feature film titles currently circulate for two days,
while series, exercise, and some educational and other non-fiction
titles circulate for a week. We are looking at changing all to a three
or four day period, while increasing the limit to six. This should
offset any circulation drop due to the reserving of titles. Is this
logical?

=20

Any other suggestions/arguments I could use in my presentation regarding
this issue would be most helpful. =20

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Number copies of features: &nbsp;no =
set rule,
but usually one at the central library and one at each of 4 branches if =
they choose.
&nbsp;Will buy 2 or 3 for central if real &#8220;hot&#8221; title, like =
award winners.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>We keep an eye on reserves and try =
to get additional
copies if more than 10 reserves per copy.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>This is a question primarily&nbsp;for the public =
libraries
of the group (though any helpful&nbsp;suggestions/arguments are =
welcome)...I
am&nbsp;interested in finding out what your collection policies are =
regarding
DVDs; I am trying to convince my administration the worthiness =
of&nbsp;changing
our DVD circulation policies such that they are more in line with the =
other
materials in our collection.&nbsp; </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>--For a typical feature film DVD release, how do you
determine the number of copies you order?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>--If you take reserves, how do you determine when =
additional
copies are necessary for purchase?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>My current situation:&nbsp; We are in the process of
changing over to a new system (Triple I Millennium), and are =
consequently
reevaluating various policies with this transition.&nbsp; We do not take
reserves on feature film releases (but we do on just about everything =
else,
including documentaries and foreign language titles) with a two-day loan =
period
and a limit of three DVDs at a time.&nbsp; They circulate for =
free.&nbsp;
Genrerally, my&nbsp;materials budget is not an issue...I can usually =
purchase
what I need when I need it.&nbsp; </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>In order to bring the feature film DVDs in line with =
most of
the other materials in the library, I would like to see us begin taking
reserves on them.&nbsp; This would have the benefit to the customer in =
that
they would now have a better handle on when they will be able to view a =
specific
title (much the way they do on current print&nbsp;bestsellers).&nbsp; If =
the
wait is too long for them, they could explore other options for =
obtaining the
film (renting it, purchasing it).&nbsp; As it stands now, the chances of =
a
customer finding a specific current DVD title on the shelf at any =
specific time
is completely random, which can be
frustrating.&nbsp;&nbsp;Taking&nbsp;reserves&nbsp;would also benefit the
customer in that they would learn to&nbsp;use the new online catalog, =
and could
place the reserves from their own home (or we could do it for them, of
course!).&nbsp; Can you think of any other =
benefits?&nbsp;</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>We are also looking at standardizing the loan period =
for
DVDs...as I mention above, feature film titles currently circulate for =
two
days, while series, exercise, and some educational and other non-fiction =
titles
circulate for a week.&nbsp; We are looking at changing all to a three or =
four
day period, while increasing the limit to six.&nbsp; This&nbsp;should =
offset
any circulation drop due to the reserving of titles.&nbsp; Is this =
logical?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Any other suggestions/arguments I could use in my
presentation regarding this issue would be most =
helpful.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>